LED lamp with adaptable plug-in pin configuration

Abstract

An LED plug-in lamp is disclosed that has a plug head which converts from a G24Q 4-pin plug head to a G24D type 2-pin plug head when a collar structure on the plug head is rotated relative to a fixed stage structure. The collar structure has two pin-stop features and two pin hole cover features. Rotating the collar structure relative to the fixed stage structure moves the two pin-stop features and allows the two reachable contact pins can be retracted through corresponding pin holes on the fixed stage structure and places ends of the pin hole cover structures over corresponding pin holes.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An LED plug-in lamp comprising:
 a) an LED light engine; and 
 b) a plug head with contact pins in electrical communication with the LED light engine and the plug head being configured to plug into a matched plug-in power outlet to power the LED light engine, wherein a portion of contact pins retract within the plug-head through corresponding pin holes, wherein the plug head is converted from a G24Q 4-pin plug head to a G24D type 2-pin plug head when a collar structure on the plug head is rotated. 
 
     
     
       2. The LED plug-in lamp of  claim 1 , further comprising a mechanical lever coupled to the portion of contact pins for mechanically retracting the portion of the contact pins. 
     
     
       3. The LED plug-in lamp of  claim 2 , wherein the portion of the contact pins retract within the plug-head when a collar structure on the plug head is rotated. 
     
     
       4. The LED plug-in lamp of  claim 3 , further comprising pin hole cover structures that are positioned over the corresponding pin holes when the collar structure is rotated. 
     
     
       5. The LED plug-in lamp of  claim 1 , further comprising a wedge lever that retracts the portion of the contact pins within the plug-head through corresponding pin holes when a collar structure on the plug head is rotated. 
     
     
       6. The LED plug-in lamp of  claim 5 , further comprising pin hole cover structures that are positioned over the corresponding pin holes when the collar is rotated. 
     
     
       7. An LED plug-in lamp comprising:
 a) an LED light engine; 
 b) a plug head with a fixed stage and four contact pins that protrude though a top surface of the fixed stage structure and are in electrical communication with the LED light engine; and 
 c) a collar structure that attaches to a bottom surface of the fixed stage structure and is configured to rotate, wherein rotating the collar structure allows two of the four contact pins to be retracted into the plug head through two corresponding pin holes on the fixed stage and thereby convert the plug head from a G24Q-type four pin plug head to a G24D type 2-pin plug head. 
 
     
     
       8. The LED plug-in lamp of  claim 7 , wherein the collar includes pin hole cover structures whereby rotating the collar structure cause the pin hole cover structures to eclipse the corresponding pin holes on the fixed stage structure. 
     
     
       9. The LED plug-in lamp of  claim 8 , wherein collar structure is attached to the bottom surface of the fixed stage structure through clip features. 
     
     
       10. The LED plug-in lamp of  claim 9 , the fixed stage structure includes channel guides for holding the two contact pins of the four contact pins and wherein the two contact pins of the four contact pins retract into the plug head through the channel guides. 
     
     
       11. An LED plug-in lamp comprising:
 a) an LED light engine; and 
 b) a plug head with a stage structure and two retractable contact pins and two fixed contact pins that protrude though a top surface of the stage and that are in electrical communication with the LED light engine; and 
 c) a collar structure that attaches to a bottom surface of the stage structure and is configured to be rotated relative to the stage structure, the collar structure having two angled pin hole cover features with pin hole covers and two pin-stop features, wherein the two pin-stop features hold the two retractable contact pins fixed with the collar structure in a first position and wherein rotating the collar structure to a second position moves the two pin-stop features such that the two reachable contact pins can be retracted through the stage structure through corresponding pin holes on the stage and rotating the collar structure to a third position places pin hole covers over the corresponding pin holes. 
 
     
     
       12. The LED plug-in lamp of  claim 11 , wherein the plug head is a G24-type plug head. 
     
     
       13. The LED plug-in lamp of  claim 11 , wherein collar structure is attached to the bottom surface of the stage structure through clip features. 
     
     
       14. The LED plug-in lamp of  claim 11 , wherein ends of the two retractable contact pins include end guide features that move through matched channel guide structures on the stage structure when the two retractable contact pins are being retracted.